The Trump administration told Harvard University on Thursday it no longer would be allowed to enroll international students, a significant escalation in President Trump’s war against the university.

Kristi Noem, the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ordered Harvard to be taken off the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.   

Along with not allowing new foreign students, the DHS said the thousands of current foreign-born students at Harvard “must transfer or lose their legal status.” 

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said. “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.  

“Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”

International students made up 27 percent of Harvard’s student body in the 2024-25 academic year, with nearly 7,000 enrolled. Such students typically pay more to their universities than those from the U.S. and contribute billions of dollars to the American economy. 

“The government’s action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably,” a spokesperson for the school said.

“We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” they added.

The New York Times was the first to report the news. One person familiar with the discussions told the Times that Harvard likely will mount a legal challenge to the move.

The university and the DHS have reportedly been battling for days over records requests regarding information about Harvard’s international students and their visas.

The Trump administration has launched a multi-front pressure campaign against Harvard after the university refused to bow to its demands for changes to its admissions and hiring policies, as well as getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.  

The Trump administration and Harvard are already locked into a legal battle after the federal government pulled almost $3 billion in funding.  

Noem’s announcement ramps up not only Trump’s fight with Harvard but also his broader crackdown on international students.  

The administration has arrested numerous foreign students and faculty in the past three months, seeking to have them deported. 

Many of the high-profile cases were against individuals who have supported Palestine publicly on their campuses, with the White House arguing they post a threat to the foreign policy of the United States.  

Students have been arrested off the streets and during naturalization interviews, with several quickly transferred to a federal detention center in Louisiana, sometimes thousands of miles away from home.  

A judge ruled on Thursday to stop the federal government from terminating the legal status of international students across the country, arresting the individuals or transferring them outside the jurisdiction of residence.  

Updated at 2:57 p.m. EDT